US2655916A - Splint - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 UNITED STATE FATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to a new and improved first-aid splint arranged to support a broken or injured part of the human body.

Heretofore, various types of surgical splints have been provided for use in hospitals or institutions to brace and support fractures and other injuries and require trained and skilled personnel to apply.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a simple, eflicient, compact, light 1 and durable first-aid splint for emergency use which can be safely applied by anyone, without previous training, at the scene of the accident, and before moving the injured party so as to lessen the danger of aggravating the injury which might be caused by moving the party before the splint is applied.

A further object comprehends the provision of a first-aid splint comprising a flexible body of any suitable size and shape and formed of an outer piece of material and an inner piece of material which are sewed together to form closed sides and bottom portions. Additionally, the body has spaced lengthwise extending pockets formed by stitching extending longitudinally of the body. Insertable in these pockets are stays and the inner piece of material has projecting from the open end of the pockets a flap portion arranged to be folded over the stays and engage the front piece so as to retain the stays in position. The opposed meeting sides of the body are provided with spaced hooks extending lengthwise thereof and arranged to receive a single lacing so as to maintain the splint in proper positions when applied to an injured part of the human body.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying claim and drawings.

Referring to the drawings in which is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first-aid splint constructed in accordance with the present invention showing the position it may assume in operation.

Figure 2 is a front view of the splint in its flat or inoperative position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4. is a. sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Figure 2, but with the flap portion in its closed position.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals indicate like parts in the several views,

I0 designates the body of the splint which may be of any suitable size and shape, depending upon the particular use to which it is to be applied. As shown, the body lll is formed of an outer piece ll of suitable light, flexible, durable material, such as fabric or the like which, as shown, is of tetragonal shape, but manifestly may be of any other suitable configuration. An inner piece I2 of substantially the same size and shape as the outer piece i I is secured thereto at its marginal sides and bottom by the stitching I3, so as to provide the body with an opened top It. The inner piece I2 has extending outwardly from the open top Hi a flexible flap it. The body It is also formed with space-d longitudinally extending stitches it which coact with the stitching 53 to provide transversely spaced pockets H for receiving the stays it formed of any suitable material such as wood, metaLplastic or the like.

'The stays it are coextensive in length with the pockets H and are retained in the pockets when the parts are assembled by folding over the flap l5 so as to overlap the front piece Ii. The flap I5 is maintained in its folded position to enclose the adjacent ends of the stays I8 by any suitable fastening means, such as the pins i9 secured to the outer face I I and the spring eyelet members 29 carried by the flap I5 and arranged to interfit with the pins when the flap is folded over the outer piece Ii, to assume the position as shown in Figure 1. Thus, it will be seen that the side and bottom stitching I3 and the stitching It are utilized to form transversely disposed pockets ll of uniform size for receiving the stays l8 and are spaced from each other by flat or smooth portions I9 (Fig. 2) which may vary in width, depending upon the particular size and shape of the splint and the use to which it is to be applied. In Figure 2, it will be observed that While the pockets are of uniform size, the spaces between the fiat portions I9 at the top of the splint are wider than that at the bottom thereof. The upper end portion of the outer piece of material II may be reinforced by the spaced transverse stitching 26 and 21.

The opposed meeting sides 22 and 23 of the splint (Fig. 1) are provided with longitudinal or vertically spaced hooks 2s. A flexible lacing 25 of leather or the like has a knot or stop 28 at one end and passes through transversely spaced eyelets 26 and 2? formed in the body adjacent the corner or upper end of one of the sides, such as 23, so that the free end portion of the lacing 25 may be conveniently moved to releasably engage the hooks 24 when applying the splint for use in emergency treatment of a fracture or other injury at the scene of an accident and before the injured party is taken to a hospital so as to lessen the danger of aggravating the injury that might result due to lifting or moving the party before the splint is applied. Thus, it will be seen that the splint is so constructed and arranged that it may be easily and conveniently applied by persons having no previous experience in first-aid treatment. {is only a single lacing 25 is used, the splint may be easily secured in place by the lacing operation, even where this has to be done in darkness of: where visibility of the splint is obstructed. While the splint is primarily intended for emergency first-aid use at the scene of an accident izes to provide a brace and support tor fractures of the leg, hip or ankle, it may alsobe used with equal 4 material, said pieces of material being of substantially the same configuration and size and the inner piece having a flap portion coextensive in width and extending beyond the adjacent end of the outer piece, said pieces being secured together at their sides and bottom by stitching and forming an open top for the body arranged to be closed by said flap portion, spaced stitching extending longitudinally from the top of the body to the bottom thereof to for m transversely spaced pockets, stays insertable in said pockets, said body adjacent the top corner thereof being provided with an eyelet, said flap arranged to gi zerlap said eyelet when folded over on said outer piece, so as to enclose the stays when the parts are assembled, the opposed meeting sides of the efliciency as a support for an injured or broken back, pelvis or neck.

m h aire ass 0 bleed, and also. allcws'rcady retrieval; that the splint ma be wasiiedbreieafned since,

which the hilt isfappl'ied'fit is soiledby blood} .1 and mud? More, er, Whenrigit q. he l iifi'iny' e fl f s des t6 s u a compact shape an be dieht1yamed in a"p ro 'ctiv'e waterproof casing a; the like without ,a, vI ia 11p top mucn'steia'gespace.

' Irw n b imderstboa that the form Qf the in: ventionsh'owri 'is'"mer'ely illustrativev of a preferredembodiment and that such changes may be stage as come within the; scope of the follow- .c m

A fi t-a splint or se a he scene of an ccident. including a flexible. body formed of an.

we: pee 9 a a ram a nn r iece of The an '5 PIQ iQeS mea s mel retai 't'ays 18in a fiifredpositio when the parts.

not inire'quenny; u to'thlepa'rticiilar'us' tbbody having longitudinally spaced hooks ofiset relative to one another, and a single lacing extending through said eyelet, said lacing having means engaging the wall of the eyelet for preent r m va 9? th l cin ir m the y let W1 W f 91 d ct n re a ve theret said lacing arranged to engage the hooks'for Se.- curing the splint in place on the fractured or injured part of the human. body, said flap pore; tion normally retaining the stays within their pockets but allowing ready removal of the stays from the splint so that the latter may be washed 0r cleaned.

MEINROD J. TIMLHNS.

References Cited in the file of this patent,

UNITED STAT-ES PATENTS Number Name Date.

66 -2? Co eman Au 2, 190,4 89 Fqrdhem. July 1 3. ,3 5,067 Eeaxdner S t- 18,1945

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